Why is meal time a struggle with toddlers? Seriously, if someone prepared food for me three times a day and made me sit down to relax and eat it… Can you just imagine how fabulous that would be? But, alas it IS often a battle to get Toddler Boy to sit down long enough to eat more than a couple bites. We’ve had a bit of luck with more pleasant meals lately when Toddler Boy gets to use his Constructive Eating Plate and Utensils.

Created after seeing their son bulldoze cheerios with his truck toys, the founders of Constructive Eating struck parenting gold – utensils and tablewear based on popular children’s construction toys.

About Constructive Eating

We are extremely excited to announce our commitment to the design and manufacture of construction based flatware for children.  Our designs integrate the functional portions of construction equipment into the tines of a fork, scoop of a spoon, and blade of a pusher. Our products are perfect for pretending and eating. Constructive Eating currently offers three unique products: the fork lift fork, front loader spoon, and bulldozer pusher. We use true to life colors and shaping for our construction “machines”. All are rugged, light weight, and dishwasher safe. They are great when going out to eat, trying to extend productive eating time at the table, encouraging those not-so-favorite foods, or just for fun!

Functional Toys at the Table

In a recent Parents Magazine article about strategies to get your toddler to enjoy a family meal, an expert suggested allowing toys at the table. Laura Markham, PhD (a clinical psychologist) said, “It’s fine to let him have something to make him feel more comfortable at meals. Think about it. A table is somewhat alien to a toddler. It’s high up, and he’s told to sit still, which is against his nature.” Toys at the table is definitely something I’ve struggled with – and gone back and forth on. Constructive Eating Utensils kill two birds with one stone in that regard – they are “toys” because they’re fun dozers and pushers but they are utensils that actually contribute to eating (which is, after all, the reason for being at the table).

Kid-Friendly Utensils and Plate

So my obvious favorite feature of the Constructive Eating products is that they keep Toddler Boy engaged and happy at the mealtime longer than usual. I love that that Utensil Set works with the Plate. The Plate has groves and slight inclines and divided food areas so that Toddler Boy can actually use his Fork Forklift to eat peas and his Bull Dozer Pusher to push rice onto his Front Loader Spoon. It’s like a whole construction set with food as the accessory. Ha. The Construction Plate also has non-skid material on the bottom to keep it in place during all the dozing and pushing.

Constructive Eating products are made with FDA approved materials. They contain no lead, no BpA, and no Phthalates.

To Buy Or Not to Buy

To Buy… Anything that makes my son eat more and stay at the dinner table longer is a winner in my book. He really enjoys the meals when he gets to use his special fork set and I do, too. I really like that the Utensil Set and Plate fit well together and actually encourage getting food on the fork or spoon and then into the mouth. And, I absolutely LOVE that the Utensil set is available in PINK.

Or Not to Buy… The Utensil Set is more expensive than I would usually spend on a set of flatware for my toddler. (But the price range is perfect for a gift and I think they’d make a great birthday or holiday gift.)

Shop! You can make your meals fun with the Constructive Eating Utensil Set – available in yellow or pink – for $19.99. The Construction Plate is $14.99. Purchase products at the Constructive Eating website.

Thank you to Constructive Eating for providing a sample product for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed here are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.